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Shinola to open new store this summer in Midtown Detroit

Shinola's store on Canfield in the Willys Overland Building. The new store will be a few doors down from this one.

A new Shinola shop is opening in Midtown this summer — but it won't sell any of its iconic watches, bicycles or leather goods. Instead the new store will serve up other American brands.

The Willys Detroit store will be located just a few doors down from Shinola's flagship retail location on Canfield Street between Cass and Second avenues. The Shinola stores, as well as neighbor Run Detroit, are in the Willys Overland Building, which was built in 1912 for the Willys-Overland Motor Co. and now houses retail as well as the luxury Willys Overland Lofts.

Shinola President Steven Bock made the off-the-cuff remark on Saturday afternoon while talking to reporters and waiting for former President Bill Clinton, who was scheduled to tour the company's Detroit watch factory. No further details were available about the new store.

Clinton, who wears a Shinola Runwell, was in town for the Michigan Democratic Party's Jackson-Jefferson Dinner at Cobo Center. Bock invited him to take a peek inside how the watches are made, and the 42nd president agreed.

He didn't make prepared remarks, but Clinton did say that he enjoys the Runwell because it is "elegant and informal" and the large numbers are easy on his eyes.

Bock also fielded questions about recent criticism over Shinola producing luxury-priced watches, bikes and leather goods in a city where 38 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

"We certainly welcome everyone to come and see what we're doing, whether they are critics or admirers," said Bock. "Our watches are not disposable watches. They are watches that are meant to be worn for life.